Ear piercing

Pierced ears are as common as wristwatches, and most women — and some men — will eventually have pierced ears. Some people have this done in a piercing/tattoo studio, where they usually get careful instructions on how to care for the piercings, but many have their ears pierced at the mall, and may not get such detailed instructions.

The key to caring for newly pierced ears is cleanliness. The pierced ears will become infected if they are not kept clean. The easiest way to do this is to soak a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide and swab both sides of the ears, morning and evening. If the pierced area starts looking red or begins to itch, apply an antibiotic ointment to the area three times a day. This should stave off an infection, but if the redness and/or itching persists for more than a couple of days, or gets worse, with a lot of drainage, the person should see a physician.

How is Ear piercing performed?
The ear lobes are marked with the patient in front of a mirror to determine exactly the placement of the studs. Local anaesthetic is injected with a very fine needle. Ear piercing is performed in a well-lit room and magnification is used for accurate placement of the ear studs. Single use studs are introduced using a spring-loaded gun.
Treatments take about 15 minutes.

Most people have their ears pierced first with "starter" earrings, which are usually studs. You should make certain that the starter earrings do not contain nickel, which can cause an allergic reaction.

Who should not undergo Ear piercing?
The following patients are advised to avoid Ear piercing:

Patients prone to chronic infections

Patients prone to severe allergic reactions

Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding

Patients who have active cold sores

Taking cortisone

Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Taking anti-coagulant medication

If there is any doubt, please discuss all matters with the treating doctor.